ScrawlrBox Unboxing: Kasey Golden Watercolor Wallet Review

Unboxing Kasey Golden's ScrawlrBox Adventure

Opening a ScrawlrBox feels like a creative holiday, but this month’s collaboration with illustrator Kasey Golden promised something special. The instant I saw her signature artwork on the insert, earthy tones and playful characters came to mind. Would the contents live up to her distinctive style? Peeling back the layers revealed a compact watercolor wallet—a game-changer for artists craving vibrant pigments without the bulk—alongside a premium brush, mechanical pencil, fineliner, and Bockingford watercolor paper. This wasn’t just another unboxing; it was a curated experience designed for immediate creation.

Watercolor Wallet: Pigment Powerhouse

The star surprise was undeniably the Vivia watercolor sheets. Encased in a portable "wallet" with water-repellent dividers, these pigment-dense sheets initially appeared metallic under intense saturation. True colors emerged only through swatching—a critical step many artists skip. For example, one magenta panel looked forest green until diluted, while deep pink and crimson revealed subtle differences only through side-by-side testing.

Testing them on the included 300GSM Bockingford paper showcased their professional quality. Unlike typical watercolors that muddy easily, these maintained brilliance when layered. As one artist discovered, adding slate gray neutralized oversaturation—transforming orange tones into perfect earthy browns for scarecrow illustrations. The wallet’s genius lies in its space efficiency; artists can carry 12+ colors without tubes or pans.

Art Supply Deep Dive

Every item served a purpose:

• Winsor & Newton fineliner (0.8): Ideal for precise linework, with its distinct shape preventing hand fatigue.
• Round nylon brush (size 6): Held ample water for gradients yet tapered for details like crow feathers.
• Mechanical pencil (0.5): Created light guidelines without ghosting on watercolor paper.

Practical testing exposed surprises: The pigments’ intensity demanded strategic mixing. Crimson + slate gray produced a rich plum perfect for shadows, while sap green (Kasey’s favorite) became a versatile base for foliage. One key takeaway? Always swatch on your final paper—colors behave differently across surfaces.

Creating the Scarecrow Illustration

Character Design Process

Inspired by Kasey’s folksy aesthetic, the artist designed a scarecrow girl with detachable limbs and straw-textured hair. Thumbnail sketches explored poses: a hanging silhouette versus an active escapee. Choosing the latter added narrative depth—she’s midway off her post, reaching for a crow friend. Patched overalls and button details honored Kasey’s style, while French-fry-like straw strands added whimsy.

Watercolor Techniques in Action

Color strategy prioritized earthy harmony:

1. Base washes: Sap green for the hat/skirt, custom brown (burnt umber + slate gray) for skin.
2. Layering: Crimson-black blend for crows and socks, applied after initial drying to prevent bleeding.
3. Background: "Jolly Rancher blue" (ultramarine) applied in flat washes—proof of the paper’s sizing quality.

A critical discovery emerged: neutralizing overwhelming vibrancy required minimal slate gray. This transformed vermilion from neon to autumnal, proving essential for cohesive palettes. The Bockingford paper impressed, allowing reworking without pilling—even after multiple layers.

Why This Box Stands Out

The watercolor wallet isn’t just convenient; it eliminates common pain points like dried-out pans or inconsistent pigments. During testing, colors released uniformly, blending smoothly without chalkiness. For artists intimidated by watercolor’s learning curve, these sheets offer forgiving opacity and easy reactivation.

Compared to traditional sets, the wallet excels for travel or small studios. However, artists needing large washes might find refillable pans better for volume work. This kit particularly shines for illustrators favoring character work or journaling where color variety trumps coverage size.

Key Takeaways for Artists

1. Swatch strategically: Test colors on your intended paper; saturation varies wildly dry vs. wet.
2. Neutralize intensity: Add cool grays to overpowering warm hues.
3. Maximize portability: Use the wallet’s peel-and-stick palette for mixing.

Final Artwork and Verdict

The completed scarecrow piece showcased everything exceptional about this box: vibrant washes, clean linework, and thoughtful paper quality. Despite initial struggles with unlimited colors, the final palette—earthy browns, sap green, and pops of plum—felt authentically Kasey. The watercolor wallet proved its worth, outperforming many tube paints in pigment load and ease of use.

For illustrators craving professional-grade materials without clutter, this ScrawlrBox delivers. The watercolor sheets alone justify the cost, offering vibrant, blendable pigments in a revolutionary format.

Your Turn: When experimenting with new watercolors, what’s your go-to method for taming overwhelming saturation? Share your tips in the comments!